Our review

Some credit cards defy the old adage 'You get what you pay for’. The BankSA Amplify Signature Credit Card is one of those. You won’t get just what you pay for, since you will recoup nearly six times the value of the annual fee every year in the form of included benefits. The annual fee is $279 p.a. but the complimentary benefits could be worth over $1,500 a year if you use all of them. Here’s how it works:

Overseas travel insurance

Most annual multi-trip international travel policies only provide cover for expeditions of limited length. The least expensive policies will terminate cover once you have been away from home for 30 days. But BankSA’s QBE policy for this premium card will protect the cardholder, spouse and children for multiple trips of up to six months’ duration every year, covering medical expenses, your luggage, cancellation and delays, rental vehicle insurance excess, and much more.

Supplementary cardholder cover

Some credit card overseas travel insurance only provides cover for the primary cardholder and their immediate family, and does not include specific cover for any supplementary cardholders. This means that a spouse holding a supplementary card is not protected by the policy unless accompanying the primary cardholder. But the BankSA overseas travel policy also covers supplementary cardholders and their family, even when travelling without the primary cardholder.

Interstate flight inconvenience insurance

Interstate holidays of up to 14 days are also made worry-free by this useful policy, covering unavoidable trip cancellation, flight delays and lost, delayed or damaged luggage.

Transit accident insurance

Regular users of public or commercial transport (including planes and ferries) will be reassured by this policy offering sizeable cash compensation for loss of limbs, eyesight, or even life, if it’s as a result of a transit accident.

Extended warranty insurance

Get more life out of your appliances and technology when the manufacturer’s Australian warranty is doubled in length, up to a maximum of 12 additional months.

Purchase protection cover

For four months after the purchase date, your new personal items will be covered against loss, theft or accidental damage. (Many cards have this type of insurance, but in most cases it’s limited to three months.)

Guaranteed pricing / Price protection

If you see an item you purchased in a store recently (up to 21 days previously) advertised at a lower price in a local printed catalogue, BankSA will refund the price difference if it is more than $75 (up to a maximum of $300).

Rental vehicle insurance excess in Australia

This one is fairly rare, because most cards only cover rental vehicle insurance excess as an inclusion in overseas travel insurance, meaning that cover is not provided in Australia. But BankSA specifically includes rental contacts in Australia as well, so that you’re covered for interstate travel or even when hiring locally because your own vehicle is off the road.

Qantas Frequent Flyer joining fee

There’s a choice of rewards programs, but if you choose Qantas Frequent Flyer the bank will pay your $89.50 joining fee if you’re not already a member.

Airport lounge passes

Regular travellers will know the value of relaxing in an airport lounge before or between flights, especially when a long haul is involved. Depending on which rewards program you choose, BankSA will give you two Qantas Club or two Priority Pass lounge single entry permits each year.

The insurance benefits are activated by using the card to purchase the items, travel or services to be covered ($500 of pre-paid trip expenses in the case of the overseas travel policy).

Working out the value

These ten benefits add up to a whole lot of dollar value every year, to offset against the $279 p.a. annual fee. The calculation looks like this:

Overseas travel insurance – above average cover: $592

Supplementary cardholder overseas travel cover: $164

Interstate flight inconvenience policy: $290

Transit accident insurance: $175

Extended warranty – say, $250 claim per 5 years: $50

Purchase protection – say, $200 claim per 5 years: $40

Price guarantee – say, $100 claim per 10 years: $10

QFF joining fee – spread over 5 years: $18

2 Qantas lounge passes every year worth, say, $75 each: $150

Australian car hire excess – based on 14 days per 5 years: $29

*TOTAL: $1,518

You want even more for your money?

If you expect still more you won’t be disappointed. In addition to the long list of complimentary benefits you’ll also receive the following:

A choice of rewards programs, with a high earning rate and birthday bonus points

Substantial bonus points

Visa Luxury Hotel Collection membership

Access to the Visa concierge service

A dedicated Signature Priority Service telephone line

Choice of rewards programs

Participating in a rewards program is a great way to get something extra without lifting a finger or changing your spending habits. Select your preference: Amplify Rewards or Qantas Frequent Flyer points. (You can switch between the two programs as often as you like without penalty, although points already earned can’t be converted.)

Up to 90,000 bonus QFF or Amplify points

The first two years are particularly rewarding because they begin with bonus points. Spend $3,000 using your new card in the first 90 days, and receive 60,000 points. When you pay the second year annual fee you’ll get a further 30,000 points. 90,000 QFF points is enough for a return flight from Sydney to Hong Kong, while 90,000 points will buy retail gift cards totalling $400.

Points earning rates

Points accrue at a higher rate than all other BankSA cards, and although the rate is not as good as some competing cards, it is quite respectable. Points are uncapped, which is a plus. (There are few things more irritating than making a major purchase in a particular month, only to discover that a large part of your expenditure isn’t earning points.) Here are the details:

Amplify: 1.5 points per dollar spent

Qantas: 0.75 points per dollar spent

Birthday bonus points

Every year you’ll get a present from Bank SA when your birthday comes around: a credit to your points account equivalent to 10% of your earnings in the previous 12 months. For example, if during the year you spent $24,000 (an average of $2,000 per month), you would earn 36,000 Amplify points (or 18,000 QFF points), and you bonus would be 3,600 Amplify points (1,800 QFF points).

Visa Premium Concierge service for the traveller and entertainer who needs someone else to find the best experiences and take care of reservations.

Visa Front Line Access to put you at the head of the queue for the hottest event tickets.

Dedicated Visa Signature priority service line, because your time is important.

Is the price worth it for you?

The annual fee of $279 p.a. makes it a pricey card, although it’s far from being the most expensive of prestige cards. But the value of the complimentary benefits is well above that of other cards which charge more.

If you are a regular overseas and interstate traveller who channels all possible expenditure through a credit card, you should be able to make good use of most of the ten inbuilt benefits while accumulating a hoard of rewards points. It could be the best $279 p.a. you’ll ever spend.

User reviews

4.8 out of 5.0 based on 1 review100% of reviewers would recommend this card

Rates and fees

Rewards

Customer service

Convenience

Trust

Reviews from users

Good bonus points, disappointing ongoing earn rate

Reviewed and recommended by Michael on 27 Nov 2016

I’ve had this card for about 12 months now. It earns Qantas points, which is why i got it. I also got a big points bonus to kick things off. The only downside is it only earns at 0.75 points per dollar. Otherwise it is a standard Visa card.

BankSA service is always exceptional.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed about credit cards are the reviewer's alone, and do not reflect the views of Credit Card Compare or the credit card issuer. Reviews have not been approved or otherwise endorsed by Credit Card Compare.

Rewards & points

Cool stuff you can get with your points

Disclaimer: Does not include taxes, fees, or charges. Accurate as of 25th January 2016.

Rewards program basics

First purchase bonus‌

90,000 points

Reward points expiry‌

Never as long as you keep your account active

Rewards program‌

Amplify Qantas or Amplify Rewards

Spend required for bonus points‌

$5,000 in 90 days

Earning points with this card

Frequent flyer points‌

0.75 pts per $1 spent

Overseas earn rate‌

0.75 pts per $1 spent (QFF)

Points cap per month‌

Unlimited

Points cap per year‌

Unlimited

Points earned on ATO payments‌

N/A

Reward points‌

1.5 pts per $1 spent

Additional benefits

Airport lounge access‌

Yes

Complimentary flight voucher‌

No

Concierge service‌

Yes

Benefits

This card comes with benefits worth an estimated $1,391

Shopping

Estimated value

Extended warranty

Valuation based on the assumption of making a $250 claim once every 5 years. There is no retail market for all-encompassing extended warranty insurance covering more than one item, so no premium saving.

$50

Guaranteed pricing / price protection insurance

Valuation based on the assumption of making a $100 claim once every 10 years. Extensive conditions apply. There is no retail market for this type of insurance, so no premium saving.

$10

Purchase protection

Valuation based on the assumption of making a $200 claim once every 5 years. There is no retail market for this type of insurance, so no premium saving.

$40

Travel

Interstate flight inconvenience insurance

Valuation based on similar domestic travel insurance policies available online that include interstate flight inconvenience.

$290

Overseas travel insurance

Valuation based on similar annual travel insurance policies available online for trips of up to 60 days.

$801

Rental vehicle excess cover (separate from travel insurance)

Valuation based on similar rental vehicle excess insurance policies available online.

$32

Transit accident insurance

Valuation based on similar global transit accident insurance policies available online.

$150

Waived Qantas Frequent Flyer joining fee

Valuation based on $89.50 Qantas Frequent Flyer joining fee spread over 5 years. Note that this benefit does not apply if cardholder chooses Amplify Rewards rather than Qantas Frequent Flyer points.

$18

Total estimated value

$1,391

Annual fee

$279

Net customer value

$1,112

Disclaimer: Details of who, what, and where coverage applies to, as well as its duration and any coverage limitations will be listed in the credit card insurance product disclosure statement (PDS) on the card issuer's website. The names/labels of complimentary insurance products may differ from one issuer to another. Terms and conditions apply. Always check the insurance PDS when considering a financial product. Accurate as of 31st October 2015.

Minimum criteria for this card

What you need before applying

Be over 18 years old

You are a resident or citizen of Australia

Earn a regular weekly income

You have your personal details ready to complete the online application

Have not applied for multiple credit cards recently

Joint applications are allowed

Age Pension,
Disability Pension and
Widower's Pension
are acceptable.

Family Tax Benefits and Parenting Payments
is acceptable.

Austudy,
Carer's Allowance,
Child Support Payments and
Foster Care Allowance
are not acceptable.

Disclaimer: The minimum criteria pointers are intended only to be a guide. Your application may still be rejected by the bank even if you can answer 'Yes' to all the minimum criteria. The final decision regarding your application is up to the bank.